I am a professional photographer of 15 years and own a studio in
the upstate NY area. I am interested in entering the horse
photography arena and I am looking for guidance on the process
including lighting in the show area, and pricing. I am fully
digital and print with a Pictography 4000II. Any guidance you
can offer would be a big help, or pointing me to a forum that can
answer my questions. Please visit my website to see the work I
currently specialize in: www.trammelphoto.com

Many thanks!

Keith Trammel

A.

Dear Keith,

I wish that I could give you a simple answer, or guidance to the
query, "How can one enter the horse photography business"

Please understand that I have been in the business for over forty
years' and am the ONLY photographer that has actually trained many
other photographers that are currently successful. Therefore, do
not take the following to mean that I am attempting to dissuade you
from trying to enter the business.

To be successful, one must be MUCH MORE of a horseman than a
photographer. The knowledge of each breed's characteristics, and
movement and exactly what the owner is looking for in a photo that
he will pay MONEY for is not easily obtainable. From the outside,
seemingly, that a beautiful photo of a horse will equate with earned
dollars is just not true. A single ear back or one foot inches too
far forward or cocked incorrectly, makes a photo worthless to the
owner. It is still a beautiful photo, but one that does not bring
home the bacon. This is NOT an "artsy" business, it is a craft that
must be conquered with horse knowledge, photographic ability, proper
equipment, business acumen, and a personality that will make people
want to do business with you.

You seem to have the photographic background and the equipment
and I am sure that the photos on your site are beautiful.......
but....... at this time with the proliferation of simple to use
digital cameras there are seemingly hundreds of people (mostly
young ladies) who will do almost anything to be in any way
associated with horses. I just am not sure that I can be
enthusiastic about entering the business and MAKING A GOOD LIVING
in it.

Please see the question and answer section at my site at:
WWW.horsephotographer.com and the answers as to shooting, lighting,
etc.will be answered. I do not use digital equipment, but
otherwise all of the other factors are the same. I work
digitally to enhance photos with much the same equipment that you
have. Sorry, there is no forum that can answer all your questions.
There is somewhat of a forum that you might go to it is, I believe,
www.equinephotographers.net. If you go to their "post a job"
column, you will see what I mean about photographers trying to
enter the business.